CHAPTER 3

DEAD LOADS, SOIL LOADS, AND HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE

3.1 DEAD LOADS
3.1.1 Definition. Dead loads consist of the weight of all
materials of construction incorporated into the building
including, but not limited to, walls, floors, roofs, ceilings,
stairways, built-in partitions, finishes, cladding, and other
similarly incorporated architectural and structural items and
fixed service equipment, including the weight of cranes and
material handling systems.
3.1.2 Weights of Materials and Constructions. In determining
dead loads for purposes of design, the actual weights of materials
and constructions shall be used, provided that in the absence of
definite information, values approved by the Authority Having
Jurisdiction shall be used.
3.1.3 Weight of Fixed Service Equipment. In determining
dead loads for purposes of design, the weight of fixed service
equipment, including the maximum weight of the contents of
fixed service equipment, shall be included. The components of
fixed service equipment that are variable, such as liquid contents
and movable trays, shall not be used to counteract forces causing
overturning, sliding, and uplift conditions in accordance with
Section 1.3.6.
EXCEPTIONS:
1. Where force effects are the result of the presence of the
variable components, the components are permitted to be
used to counter those load effects. In such cases, the
structure shall be designed for force effects with the
variable components present and with them absent.
2. For the calculation of seismic force effects, the components
of fixed service equipment that are variable, such as liquid
contents and movable trays, need not exceed those
expected during normal operation.
3.1.4 Vegetative and Landscaped Roofs. The weight of all
landscaping and hardscaping materials shall be considered as
dead load. The weight shall be computed considering both fully
saturated soil and drainage layer materials and fully dry soil and
drainage layer materials to determine the most severe load effects
on the structure.

Table 3.2-1 Design Lateral Soil Load

Design Lateral Soil Loada psf per foot of depth

Description of Backfill Material Unified Soil Classification (kN∕m2 per meter of depth)

Well-graded, clean gravels, gravel–sand mixes GW 35 (5.50)b

Poorly graded, clean gravels, gravel–sand mixes GP 35 (5.50)b
Silty gravels, poorly graded gravel–sand mixes GM 35 (5.50)b
Clayey gravels, poorly graded gravel-and-clay mixes GC 45 (7.07)b
Well-graded, clean sands; gravel–sand mixes SW 35 (5.50)b
Poorly graded, clean sands, sand–gravel mixes SP 35 (5.50)b
Silty sands, poorly graded sand–silt mixes SM 45 (7.07)b
Sand–silt clay mix with plastic fines SM–SC 85 (13.35)c
Clayey sands, poorly graded sand–clay mixes SC 85 (13.35)c
Inorganic silts and clayey silts ML 85 (13.35)c
Mixture of inorganic silt and clay ML–CL 85 (13.35)c
Inorganic clays of low to medium plasticity CL 100 (15.71)
d
Organic silts and silt–clays, low plasticity OL
d
Inorganic clayey silts, elastic silts MH
d
Inorganic clays of high plasticity CH
d
Organic clays and silty clays OH
a
Design lateral soil loads are given for moist conditions for the specified soils at their optimum densities. Actual field conditions shall govern. Submerged or
saturated soil pressures shall include the weight of the buoyant soil plus the hydrostatic loads.
b
For relatively rigid walls, as when braced by floors, the design lateral soil load shall be increased for sand and gravel type soils to 60 psf (9.43 kN∕m2 ) per foot
(meter) of depth. Basement walls extending not more than 8 ft (2.44 m) below grade and supporting light floor systems are not considered as being relatively rigid
walls.
c
For relatively rigid walls, as when braced by floors, the design lateral load shall be increased for silt and clay type soils to 100 psf (15.71 kN∕m2 ) per foot (meter)
of depth. Basement walls extending not more than 8 ft (2.44 m) below grade and supporting light floor systems are not considered as being relatively rigid walls.
d
Unsuitable as backfill material.

Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures 11
3.1.5 Solar Panels. The weight of solar panels, their support
system, and ballast shall be considered as dead load.
3.2 SOIL LOADS AND HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE
3.2.1 Lateral Pressures. Structures below grade shall be
designed to resist lateral soil loads from adjacent soil. If lateral
soil loads are not given in a geotechnical report approved by the
Authority Having Jurisdiction, then the lateral soil loads specified
in Table 3.2-1 shall be used as the minimum design lateral soil
loads. Where applicable, lateral pressure from fixed or moving
surcharge loads shall be added to the lateral soil loads. When a
portion or the whole of the adjacent soil is below a free-water
surface, computations shall be based upon the weight of the soil
diminished by buoyancy, plus full hydrostatic pressure.
The lateral pressure shall be increased if expansive soils
are present at the site, as determined by a geotechnical
investigation.
12
3.2.2 Uplift Loads on Floors and Foundations. Basement
floors, slabs on ground, foundations, and similar approximately
horizontal elements below grade shall be designed to resist uplift
loads where applicable. The upward pressure of water shall be
taken as the full hydrostatic pressure applied over the entire area.
The hydrostatic load shall be measured from the underside of the
construction.
Foundations, slabs on ground, and other components placed
on expansive soils shall be designed to tolerate the movement
or resist the upward loads caused by the expansive soils, or the
expansive soil shall be removed or stabilized around and
beneath the structure.
3.3 CONSENSUS STANDARDS AND OTHER
REFERENCED DOCUMENTS
No consensus standards and other documents that shall be
considered part of this standard are referenced in this chapter.
STANDARD ASCE/SEI 7-16